Torsional testing apparatus



May 13, 1947. F. SLUSHER TORSIONAL TESTING APPARATUS Filed Ju1y.3l, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheetl .{l i I IIIIIIIJ J FUEL JEank Hus/75L 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum-rial, jam t EFL/shes;

y 1947- F. SLUSH'ER TORSIONAL TESTING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1944 Patented May 13 194-7 PENT OFFICE TGRSIONAL TESTING APPARATUS Frank Slusher, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F.

Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 31, 1944, Serial No. 547,368

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring the torque-deflection characteristics of an article, and is especially useful in determining the torque resistance of rubber torsion spring structures.

In the manufacture of torsion spring structures of rubber and metal, it has been found desirable to test individual structures, as the torque characteristics of the structures vary considerably, depending upon the rubber composition and the time of vulcanization.

Objects of the invention are to provide apparatus whereby the spring structure may be tested under actual loading conditions; to provide for direct indication of the torque load; to provide convenience in the loading and unloading of the apparatus, and to provide positive holding of the spring structure without slippage. These and other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same partly broken away and in section, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a spring structure in the testing of which the present invention is useful.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig. 4 thereof:

The illustrative spring structure comprises a metal shaft Hi having a cylindrical body It of soft vulcanized rubber or other rubber-like composition thereabout and enclosed by a shell or housing of metal formed of complementary arcuate plates or shell members l2, l3, spacedapart at their axially extending margins as at M. The rubber-like material is united as by a bond of vulcanization to the shaft and also to the shell members l2, l3. The shaft is longer than the body of rubber-like material and the shell members, and has keyways l5, 18 in its projecting ends. In use, the spring structure is forced within a housing to which the shell is secured, as by keys engaging between the shell.

sections, and the ends of the shaft EU project beyond the housing where they may be engaged by sockets 4!, 46 for holding the shaft against rotation while force is applied for stressing the body of rubber-like material torsionally.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the testing apparatus comprises a frame 2e having a top plate 2! and a shelf 22 therebelow. Fixed to the top plate of the frame is a horizontal bearing 23 through which a quill 24 is rotatably mounted. The quill 2 3 is provided on its inner surface with keys 25, 26 and is adapted to receive the shell of the spring structure to be tested with its keys 25, 26 engaging between the arcuate shell members for securing the shell in non-rotatable relation to the quill. Rotatably mounted about the quill is the gear 2'5. A motor 28 and a geared speed reducer 29 are fixed to the shelf 22, and pinion St is fixed to the shaft of the speed reducer and meshes With a gear 3! fixed to a jack shaft 3 The jack shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 33, 34 secured to the frame on the machine, and also has a pinion 35 fixed thereon which meshes with the gear 27. The arrangement is such that the motor 28 is adapted to rotate the gear 21 at a slow speed. For retaining the shaft Ill against rotation, a socket bearing 40 is fixed to the top 2! of the frame and is formed with a socket 4| adapted to receive one end of the shaft l0 and having a key 2 for engaging the keyway in that end of the shaft. The top 2! of the frame is provided with gibs 13, dd parallel to the bore of the quill and adapted to retain the carriage 45 slidably arran ed between the gibs. The carriage 45 is formed with a socket bearing 66 having a key t? adapted to engage the end of the shaft Ill. The arrangement is such that the spring structure to be tested may be inserted in the quill with the ends of the shaft it) engaging in the sockets ii and 46 and retained thereby against rotation while the quill with the outer shell of the spring structure may be rotated about the shaft to stress the body of rubber-like material.

For rotating the quill and simultaneously determining the torque load thereon, an arm 56 is fixed to the quill and extends radially thereof. A lug M is provided on the gear 21 in the same plane of rotation as the arm 56. A fluid confining capsule provided by a fluid cylinder 52 is pivotally mounted as at 53 on arm 5%. A piston 54 Within the cylinder 52 is fixed to a piston rod 55 which is pivotally secured as at 55 to the lug 5!. A dial indicating pressure gauge 5? is connected by a pipe 58 to the cylinder 52 and is mounted thereon. The cylinder is filled with a substantially non-compressible liquid such as oil. The arrangement is such that rotation of the gear 21 advances the arm 59 through the cylinder 52 and the liquid in the cylinder 52 through which the torque load is transmitted is placed under pressure which is directly indicated on the dial of the pressure gauge in sight of the operator. The quill 24 is provided with a finger or pointer 69 secured thereto. An arcuate scale it is fixed to the frame of the machine adjacent the pointer and is graduated to indicate to the operator the angle of rotation of the quill under the load indicated by the pressure gauge.

The electric motor 28 which drives the gear 21 is adapted to rotate in either direction and the current to the motor is controlled by an arrangement of push buttons locatedcon'veniently for use by the operator. Mounted on the gear 21 is a pair of stops 65, 66. The limit switch 61 is mounted on the frame 20 in a position to be actuated by the stop 66 when the gear 21- is rotated in one direction. A similar switch "68is 'a'l's'o mounted on the frame in aipositiontob'e actuated by the stop 65 Whentheigear Zl -is rotated in the opposite direction. The electrical circuit is so arranged that when the starting button is held down the motor 28 is energized and rotates the gear 21 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 until the button is released or the stop 65 opens the switch 68 by contact therewith. In either event'the-motor is reversed and the gear 21 rotates in a clockwise direction 'to 'an angular position where the stop 66 opens the switch 61 by contact therewith and'deenergizes the motor. By this arrangement the'angular deflection-of the spring to =be-tested is effectively limitedby the stops 65 and 65,'p1eVenting injury to the=spring should the operator continue-to hold down the starting button.

For actuating the carriage-4'5, a double :acting fluid pressureoper-ated cylinder '10 is pivotally mounted as at H to-the frame-of the machine. A horizontal shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in A lever is fixed to shaft 12. The upper-end of.

the lever is pivotally'connected to-the carriage by a link iii-and the lower end-of the arm is pivotally connected as at Tito the piston rod 18 of-the cylinder 10. Fluid pressurefrom a convenient source n'ot shown is connected -to the opposite endsof the cylinder'lll througha reversing valve, not shown. The arrangement is such that the carriage is moved forward and back=by power at 'thewill of thepperatorand-maybe used to force the spring structure to betested into the quill 24.

The operation of the-apparatus v is as follows: One end of the shaft of the spring structure-is entered in the socket'bearing of the carriage-45, thecylinder 7-0 is energized by fluid pressure to advance the carriage toward the quill 24, whereby the shell of the springstr-ucture is forced into-the quill and the opposite endof theshaft of the structure is forced into the socket bearing 49. Thereafter the operator :depressestheipush button energizing themotor 28, "and the .quill with the outer shell structureofthespringsructure is rotated about the shaft. The'operator observes the angular -displacement of the spring structure by observing the position of thel pointer on the scale-8l andat the-same time observes thetorque load corresponding to-such deflection 18 in the opposite direction, thereby permitting removal of the spring structure from the -quill -24, and the test is complete.

Variations may be made"without departing from'the scope of the inventionas itisdefined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for testing the torsional characteristics of a torsion spring structure having a shaft, an outer shell thereabout, and a resilient body of vulcanized rubber-like material therebetween and bonded thereto, said apparatus comprising holding means engaging opposite ends of the shaft to hold it against rotation, means for moving one of said holding means toward and from the other for mounting a spring structure therebetween, moveable means engaging the "outer shell, power-driven means for applying a torsional load to said structure through said-moveable means, and indicating means responsive to movement of said moveable means relative to said power driven means.

2. Apparatus for testing the torsional characteristics of a torsion spring structure having spaced-apart elements and a distortable body therebetween, said apparatus comprisinga pair of holding means for holding one element of the spring'structure, means for moving one of said holding means toward and from thepther for placing a spring structure therebetween, moveable means engageable with the other element of-the spring structure, power-driven means for applying a torsional load to said structure throughsaid moveablemeans, means connected with said moveable means for indicatingthe torsional load, and additional means for indicating the amount of torsional defiection of said-structure under such load 'relative to .said powerdriven'means.

"3. 'Apparatus'for testing the torsional characteristics of a torsion spring structure having'a shaft, an outer shell thereabout, and aresilient body of 'vulcanized'rubber-like material therebetween-and' bonded thereto, said apparatusrcomprising 'a socket memberand a second socket member moveable relative to:the first, means?for moving the moveable socket member toward and fromthe first socket'member to'chuck thetspring structure and restrain the shaft against rotation, a rotatable sleevemounted between :said socket members for engaging the outer shell of the spring structure to rotate the samegmeans for applying a rotative movement to saidsleeve to deflect the spring :structure torsionally, land means connected with the last-namedmeansiand said"sleeve formeasuring the torsionalTload applied to the spring structure. 1

4. Apparatus for testing the torsional characteristics of a torsion spring structure :hav'ing a .shaf-t, an outer shell thereabout, :and ares'ilient body :of vulcanized rubber-like Imaterlal therebetween land bonded thereto, said :apparatus comprising a socketmemberand a second 'socket member moveable relative to the first, means for moving the moveable socket memberltoward and from-the first :socket member to .chuck'the' spring structure and restrain the shaft'against. rotation, :a rotatable sleeve 'mounted between 'said socket members for :engaging the outer "shell of the spring-structure to rotate the same, meansfor applying a rotative movement-to said sleeve to deflect the spring structure torsionally, and :rne'ans connected with thelast-namedmeans and *saidsleeve for'measuringlitheitorsional lo'a'd applied to the "spring :structure, the :measuring means comprising a ifiuid-confining container and means connected therewithfor indicating the pressure of the fluid therein.

FRANKSLUSHER. otherreferences on followinglpage) 5 REFERENCES CITED fi ggQfi The following references are of record in the 1,303,410 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Number Name Date 314,925 2,030,464 Nilson Feb. 11, 1936 537,650 1,810,085 Rettig et a1 June 16, 1931 Name Date Pfeifier Dec. 8, 1936 Girl July 1, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 18, 1919 Germany Nov. 5, 1931 

